Altera announced the availability of version 6.0 of the Nios II embedded processor and the Nios II Embedded Design Suite (EDS). The Nios II EDS now includes 32-bit, single-precision, IEEE 754-compatible floating-point support and the recently announced Nios II C-to-Hardware Acceleration (C2H) Compiler. Additionally, Altera has updated the Nios II embedded processor. Floating-point support is delivered as a set of Nios II custom instructions. The Nios II C2H Compiler is a productivity tool for Nios II users. In addition to the tool chain enhancements, the Nios II processor now includes top-level synchronization signals to give designers more flexibility in managing multiprocessor system "bring-up." Designers now have an option of using a processor-only reset signal to control the order in which the Nios II processors boot.
Nios II Embedded Design Suite
The Nios II EDS provides designers with the software tools, utilities, libraries and drivers necessary to develop complete Nios II embedded systems in Altera FPGAs. The Nios II EDS includes the Eclipse-based Nios II IDE -- the cockpit for all software development tasks -- including: editing, compiling, debugging, profiling and programming. The Nios II IDE also includes an integrated plug-in for the Nios II C2H Compiler, which is licensed separately.
Pricing and Availability
All active Nios II subscribers will automatically receive the version 6.0 upgrades of the Nios II processor and the Nios II EDS. They will also have access to a free evaluation license for the Nios II C2H Compiler. An annual Nios II subscription may be purchased for as little as $495. The Nios II C2H Compiler is delivered as an integrated plug-in to the Nios II IDE, and is licensed separately for $2,995 per seat.
Nios II Embedded Processor
The Nios II soft embedded processor is a general-purpose 32-bit RISC CPU optimized for programmable logic and system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) integration. With over 15,000 development kits sold worldwide and the world's top 20 OEMs already using the Nios II processor, the Nios architecture is the most popular configurable soft processor available today.
